Have a new bookcase? Here are a few tips and guidelines to help with styling it.
What are you going for?
Your style for your new bookcase will depend heavily on what you intend to do with it. Is it simply for storing your expansive collection of books? Is it meant to be more decorative than practical? Answering questions like these will help you think about what style you want for your new bookcase.
If you have a large collection of books that needs storing, you’re less likely to care about what you can use to decorate it, and you’re more likely to seek ways to maximize space. If your bookcase is meant to be decorative, you may leave books off of it and style it to a certain theme. The possibilities are endless.
How Should it be Organized?
Do you want it to be organized by color or by category? If your bookcase is more practical, you may want to organize it by topic, so that similar books are grouped together and easily accessible. Organizing it by color would be more in line with a decorative style since the bookcase becomes less of a storage method and more of a display in your home.
Asking about organization also prompts thinking about how many books you want to display in your bookcase. Having a large number of books would seem more practical, but it could also be used to a decorative advantage. Having fewer books could make room for artwork, pottery, and other displays. Fewer books would also allow you to experiment with book placement. Do you want to put the books on their side? Should one or two books face forward to display their covers?
Location
Another thing to consider when styling your bookcase is its location. Does the room it’s in already have a theme or style? If so, you may want to tailor your bookcase’s style to the room’s. Want to style a bookcase in your small study-room that’s painted light blue? Maybe scatter starfish or shells and include book-covers with soft, muted colors. This could create a serene, beach-like feel in the room. Is the bookcase in your main living area? Fake leaves and autumn-colored book-covers may help create a warm, homey environment.
Extra Tips
- Put items in your bookcase that you use regularly for easy access
- Store extra books in your attic or basement to use for future styles
- Change your bookcases’ styles seasonally or when it feels appropriate
- Store books in unconventional ways! Window sills or under leg-less furniture can be cool places to store your books.
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